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cuck·oo

(kk, kk)

n. pl. cuck·oos

a. A grayish bird (Cuculus canorus) of Eurasia and Africa that has a characteristic two-note call and lays its eggs in the nests of birds of other species.

b. Any of various other birds of the family Cuculidae.

2. The call or cry of one of these birds.

3. Slang A foolish or crazy person.

tr.v. cuck·ooed, cuck·oo·ing, cuck·oos

To repeat incessantly, as a cuckoo does its call.

adj.
Slang

Lacking in sense; foolish or crazy.

[Middle English cuccu, of imitative origin.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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